A Portland woman has dedicated the last 25 years of here career to helping students across the state find and reach their full potential.

Deb Mumm-Hill is the executive director for Oregon STEM.

Oregon STEM promotes equitable access to STEM opportunities for students across the state.

The program's goal is to show students mostly in underserved communities different education and career opportunities related to science and technology.

Her passion for helping young people started many years ago working with homeless women and children outside Chicago.

In 2007, she moved to the area and was tasked with bringing robotics to Oregon, Washington, and Alaska.

She says it is the mentorship piece that drives her to continue this challenging work.

“Career identity and helping youth figure out how big this world is and what they can offer. It is like helping them getting to know themselves and helping them understand pathways to getting there is what I have been all about since 2007,” she said.

Oregon STEM just received a $500,000 award from Catalyze Challenge that will help provide more access to programs for students living in rural areas and other parts of the state.